Grapevine Police: Shooter Tried Spreading Blame In Murders

GRAPEVINE (CBSDFW.COM) – Search warrants from a Christmas Day shooting in Grapevine show a family gathered in a living room and enjoying the holiday moments before the shooter opened fire, killing six relatives before turning the gun on himself.

Based on evidence Grapevine police say before Azizolah Yazdanpanah shot himself he planted a gun in the hand of his brother-in-law Mohammed Zarei.

Forensic evidence collected show Zarei was hit 4 times, with bullets from both a Smith & Wesson 9mm and a Glock 23. The Medical Examiner ruled Yazdanpanah, called ‘Bob’ by friends and family, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Initially, police were looking into the possibility of two shooters, but ruled that Yazdanpanah had planned and carried out the attack by himself.

The bodies of all seven were found in the living area of the apartment belonging to Yazdanpanah’s estranged wife Fatemah Rahmati. The warrant states all were seen by police sitting on couches or lying on the living room floor.

After making entry, police found the body of Yazdanpanah near the front door, along with several bullet shells on the floor.

At 11:15 Sunday morning – just minutes before the shooting – one of the victims, 22-year-old Sara Zarei, texted a friend about Yazdanpanah’s arrival dressed as Santa Claus. “Now he wants to be all fatherly and win father of the year,” her text said, according to police.

At 11:36 Grapevine police say they received a 911 call from a landline inside the apartment. The warrant says a man was whispering and asking for help before hanging up.